United Way, in Partnership with Palm Beach County, Announces Collaborative, Community-Wide Hunger Relief Research & Strategic Plan

Contracts with Food Research and Action Center in collaboration with the University of South Carolina’s Center for Research in Nutrition and Health Disparities

June 1, 2015 – Boynton Beach, FL – Palm Beach County is one of the wealthiest counties in the nation, however, on any given day more than 210,000 residents don’t know where their next meal will come from. Close to 64,000 of those individuals are children. In response to these and other startling statistics, United Way of Palm Beach County and the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners have partnered to develop a community-wide strategic plan to alleviate hunger. The Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) in collaboration with the University of South Carolina’s Center for Research in Nutrition and Health Disparities (The USC Center) have been contracted to execute the research needed and develop the Hunger Relief Plan.

Specifically, the research will identify: the challenges of those in need; the strengths and weaknesses in the current process for reducing hunger; what the community-at-large needs to know; how to respond to urgent needs; the long-term efforts required to expand the food supply and alleviate hunger.

The Hunger Relief Plan will focus on the following areas:

· Childhood and Young Adult Hunger (Prenatal to 22 years old)

· Older Adult Hunger (60 years or older)

· Household Crisis Hunger

· Rural Communities (Belle Glade, Pahokee, South Bay, Canal Point)

· Systems, Infrastructure and Technology (Food Banks, Pantries, Soup Kitchens, Distribution, Preservation and Facilities)

· Public Awareness

· Advocacy

· Public Policy

· Consumer Education (Shopping basics, Preparation, etc)

FRAC and The USC Center will engage stakeholders throughout the process to ensure a community supported comprehensive plan. The Hunger Relief Plan will be presented to community stakeholders in September.

President and CEO of United Way of Palm Beach County, Dr. Laurie George, said of the Plan, “The fact that the County and United Way have partnered to contract FRAC and The USC Center is tremendous. It demonstrates that we are serious about improving our community at a systems level that will involve and engage the hundreds of stakeholders working with us to alleviate hunger. It’s a comprehensive, collaborative approach that will result in lasting, meaningful change for our residents and it’s very exciting.”

###

About the United Way of Palm Beach County: For 85 years, United Way of Palm Beach County has been the local leader dedicated to identifying and addressing critical community issues to improve the lives of our residents. We champion community change by strategically uniting key stakeholders and community leaders and investing in successful local nonprofits. United Way funds more than 70 programs that provide lasting solutions and measurable results – from increasing graduation rates and supporting literacy to ensuring financial independence, promoting healthy lifestyles and ending hunger. When you support United Way of Palm Beach County, you are strengthening your community. To learn more call 561.375.6600 or visit www.UnitedWayPBC.org. Like us on Facebook /UnitedWayPBC and follow us on Twitter /UnitedWayofPBC.

About The Food Research and Action Center (FRAC): FRAC is the leading national nonprofit organization working to improve public policies and public-private partnerships to eradicate hunger and undernutrition in the United States. FRAC works with hundreds of national, state and local nonprofit organizations, public agencies, corporations and labor organizations to address hunger, food insecurity, and their root cause, povertySince 1970, FRAC has worked to achieve this primarily by increasing access to, and participation in, the federally-funded nutrition assistance programs and other anti-poverty programs, and by improving the benefits and nutrition quality within those programs, to ensure food security, economic security, health, and well-being.As Congress Daily has written, FRAC is “the premier anti-hunger group in Washington.”

About The University of South Carolina Center for Research in Nutrition and Health Disparities (The USC Center): The USC Centeris dedicated to ending child hunger through community-engaged research and advocacy. The USC Center has three primary goals: (1) to build capacity for nutrition and health disparities research excellence; (2) to convene collaborators for new cutting-edge research that addresses nutrition and health disparities; and (3) to build the prominence of nutrition and health disparities research.Over its 10-year history,the USC Center has managed a grants portfolio of approximately $12 million per year; convened an annual symposium attracting researchers, government officials, community partners, and students; published a policy and practice brief series; and hosted monthly seminars.

Together, FRAC and the USC Center have the expertise, experience, leadership, and capacity to develop an ambitious and practical strategic plan to address hunger in Palm Beach County.

​

For more information regarding the Hunger Relief Plan, the group of community stakeholders involved or anything related, please contact Donna Quinlan at 561.375.6671 or

Alexia Savage
Sr. VP Communications & Resource Development
United Way of Palm Beach County
Countess de Hoernle Community Campus
2600 Quantum Blvd. | Boynton Beach, FL 33426
O: 561.375.6624 | F: 561.375.6666
…………………………………………………………………